Setting Automatic Updates on Windows
More recent versions of windows have an Automatic Update feature. This is available in Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP and Vista. If you turn on this feature, your PC will check for, download and install critical updates over night. This eliminates the need for you to periodically check for updates.
To configure the Automatic Updates feature for XP Home and Professional Editions:
- Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties
- Click the Automatic Updates tab, and then click Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify. Select a convenient time that you computer will be on while you are not working on it.
When you configure this setting, Automatic Updates checks the Windows Update site periodically for critical updates while the computer is connected to the Internet but the connection to the Internet is not being used.
After Automatic Updates has downloaded the necessary Critical Updates, your computer will automatically install them at the time you select.
To configure Automatic Updates for Windows Vista:
- Click the Microsoft button in the lower left corner of your desktop
- Right-click "Computer" and then select "Properties"
- Select "Windows Update" and then select "Change Settings"
- Select "Install Updates Automatically"
- Set to "Every Day" and select a time that you prefer
To install the Automatic Updates Feature: Windows 2000
If you are running Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 or above (downloaded from the Windows Update Site), you do not have to install Automatic Updates but you do have to configure it.
Go to Control Panel, and open Automatic Updates, select Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify. Select a convenient time that you computer will be on while you are not working on it (i.e. early mornings).